Golf practice machine



y 13, 1958 E CRELINSTEN 2,834,210

' GOLF PRACTICE MACHINE Filed March 14, 1955 xw n jnvenfar',"

United States Patent O GOLF PRACTICE MACHINE Edward Crelinsten, Montreal, Quebec, Canada Application March 14, 1955, Serial No. 493,972

3 Claims. (Cl. 73-379) The present invention pertains to a novel machine that enables the practice of golf indoors or outdoors away from a golf course.

One object of the invention is to provide such a machine that indicates how far a golf ball would be driven by a given stroke thereon.

In the accomplishment of this object, a link is connected by a universal joint to a vertically mounted rotatable shaft. An upright stem is connected by another universal joint to the remote end of the link and carries a replaceable practice ball. When the ball is struck, the shaft rotates and operates a counter which indicates the distance the ball would have been driven in the open air.

The universal joints are adjustably spring tensioned for adjustment with set screws.

The invention is fully disclosed by way of example in the following description and in the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the device;

Figure 2 is a vertical section;

Figure 3 is a detail section;

Figure 4 is a detail plan view; and

Figure 5 is a detail plan section.

Reference to these views will now be made by use of like characters which are employed to designate corresponding parts throughout.

In Figures 1 and 2 is shown a base or platform 1 in which is formed a well 2. The apparatus, as to be described, is secured to the base of the well. It may however be secured to a floor or the like, and the base replaced by a separate platform, if desired.

In the bottom of the well is a vertical shaft 3 held by a ball bearing 4. On the upper end of the shaft is the knuckle or ball 5 of a universal joint. A link 6 is formed at its ends with caps or sockets 7 and 8, the latter receiving the ball 5. A stem 9 is formed at one end with a ball 10 received in cap 7 Each ball is held in its socket by a retaining ring 11 attached to the corresponding cap by screws 12. The joints are fairly loose, and each cap receives a coil spring 13 tensioned by an adjustable set screw 14, in order to maintain the joint at the desired tightness. If desired, the link 6 may be in the form of a gooseneck.

A golf ball 15 is supported on the remaining end of the stem 9 by a pin 16 passed through the ball a through a hollow nut 17 in the arm, where the ball is held by nuts 18.

A flat strip 19 is hinged at 20 to an edge of the well and urged downward by a spring 21. Normally the strip is held horizontally by contact with the nut 17 as in Figure 4 to represent the ground level. When the ball is struck by the club 22, the attached nut 17 moves away and the strip is pivoted into a slot 23 in the wall of the well by spring 21.

The impact on the ball causes the shaft 3 to rotate. The lower end of vertical shaft 3 is formed as a worm 23' and is geared at 24 to a flexible shaft 25 operating a counter 26. The device is so calibrated that the reading on the counter represents the number of yards the ball would be driven by the impact thereon. The counter is returned to zero by a button 27.

If the stroke has been made perfectly the stem 9 will rotate and operate counter 26.

The ball assembly may be replaced as needed by loosening the nuts 18. The top of the nut 17 as shown simulates a tee. It may be modified to represent any ground condition, and likewise the strip 19 may be altered to simulate various kinds of lies.

The invention can be also used for showing the direction of the golf ball. There being only four kinds of strokes, if stem 9 is set to keep its position at the impact until the rotation stops, we can see if the ball was hit perfectly or if it has been topped, hooked or sliced, and to which degree. Stem 9 can be made to hold its position by increasing the pressure of spring 13 on ball 10. After each stroke, stem 9 can be put in position by hand, for the next stroke.

Although a specific embodiment of the invention has been illustrated and described, it will be understood that various alterations in the details of construction may be made without departing from the scope of the invention as indicated by the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. A golf practice machine comprising a base, a shaft journalled vertically therein, a link extending from the upper end of said shaft, a universal joint connecting one end of said link to said end of said shaft, a stem extending upwardly from the remaining end of said link, a universal joint connecting one end of said stem to the latter end of said link, a golf ball mounted on the remaining end of said stem, adjustable spring tensioning means in said joints, and a counting device connected to said shaft.

2. In a machine as set forth in claim 1, each universal joint comprising a ball and a cap, and an adjustable spring in each cap and bearing on the corresponding ball.

3. In a machine as set forth in claim 1, a wall outwardly adjacent to said stem, and a downwardly tensioned strip hinged on said wall and adaptedto be held by contact with said stem.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,023,125 Connable Apr. 16, 1912 1,677,557 Johnson July 17, 1928 1,780,383 Green Nov. 4, 1930 2,456,182 Goble Dec. 14, 1948 2,656,720 Sonnett Oct. 27, 1953 FOREIGN PATENTS 706,628 France Mar. 31, 1931 447,316 Great Britain May 15, 1936 

